Some senior doctors have been prioritising private work and pushing NHS patients onto junior staff

Sir Malcolm said: “We are . . . quite dismayed that some 30 per cent of practitioners did not consent to having their name disclosed.

"It just looks wrong.”

As well as transparency, the chairman is hoping to understand the financial demands and influences on the Health Service, explaining: "[I am] trying to make sure the NHS pound is used exclusively for NHS purposes and not for the illicit advantage of individuals"